Think about the first time you realized you were "other." Note: "Otherness" is a broad concept. It can be intense, such as experiencing racial prejudice, or more subtle, such as feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar social situations. Otherness is a universal human experience and can look and feel many different ways.

• Discuss your reactions to your realization of being "other."
• Explain how your developmental stage impacted your experience of "otherness."
• Explain the importance of multicultural awareness and cultural competency to the practice of clinical mental health counseling.
• Describe perceived gaps in cultural competency